Chair.



E. J. HOFF.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

1,025,9 1 5. Patented May 7, 1912'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CDLUMBIA PMNOURAPH co..'\vASHlNaroN, D. C.

E. J. HOFF.

CHAIR.

APPLIUATION' FILED JULY 114.,A 1911.

1,025,91 5; Patented May 7, 191/2.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 ww', @1 7M coLuMBxA PLANOGRAPH Co.,wAsHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. HOFF, 0F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

CHAIR.

To all whom t may concern:

lie it known that I, EDWARD J. I-Iorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, Alameda county, California, have` invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in chairs; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now conside-r to be my preferred embodiment from among other formations and arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention.

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in and relating to chairs of the type illustrated and claimed by my Patent No. 974,769, dated Nov. 1, 1910.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts and details as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure l, is a vertical section through a chair embodying my invention, the chair seat being locked in lowered position. Fig. 2, is a sect-ion showing the seat elevated, parts being broken away. Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the chair, parts being broken away. Fig. 4, is a detail plan view of the front portion of one of the chair arms, dotted lines indicating certain hidden parts. Fig. 5, is a detached rear end elevation of the chair seat. Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of a portion of the locking latch and cert-ain coperating parts.

In the drawings, 1, is the open xed or rigid seat supporting frame of the chair fixed to and carried by any suitable supports, such as legs 10', extended upwardly above said frame and having the arm rests 11', fixed thereto.

In the particular example illustrated, the seat embodies an open approximately rectangular strong, durable frame comprising a front cross bar or board 2, usually composed of wood and a U-shaped metal frame formed of the rear cross bar 20, and the two Specicatiqn of Letters Patent.

Application led. July 24, 1911.

Serial No. 640,278.

.forwardly extending side bars 21, at their front end bolted or otherwise secured to the ends of the front bar 2, usually to the under side thereof.

The seat bottom consists of an endless or double webbing 22, of strong heavy fabric such as canvas. The two plies of the webbing are at their front edges stretched over and tacked or otherwise secured to t-he front bar 2, and from thence the webbing extends rearwardly over and a distance above the portions 20, 21 of the seat frame, being supported by the seat frame through the medium of longitudinal elevated stiff spring side bars .23, and rear vertically swingable levers 24. The two levers 24, overlap at their lower inner ends and are pivoted at said ends to the center of the rear bar 20, by means of a transverse pivot 25, on which said levers are rockable vertically. The levers extend laterally in opposite directions from said pivot and are turned upwardly at their outer free ends, and the rear ends of the elevated side bars 23, are bolted or otherwise secured to the elevated outer or free ends of said levers. The front ends of said side bars 23, are bolted or otherwise fixed to the ends of the front bar 2, and usually rest on the top face or side thereof. The flexible seat bottom webbing is confined to said side bars 23, preferably by passing around the same, that is, said bars are inserted through the endless webbing 20 to lie between the plies thereof, and the webn bing is usually secured by the bolts securing the bars 23, to the front bar and by the bolts securing the bars 23 to the overturned ends of the levers 24.

The side bars 23 and levers 24, are designed and arranged to act in conjunction with the front cross bar, in keeping the flexible seat bottom tautand against undue bagging or sagging under the weight of the occupant. The liexible bottom is stretched between and sustained by the side bars 23, and the occupant is arranged thereon between said bars so that the weight of the occupant tends to depress the rear ends of the bars and hence depress the free ends of the levers 24, and thereby tighten the fabric between said bars, inasmuch as downward swing of said levers tends to separate said side bars.

The chair of this invention is designed for use by the weak and infirm and hence it is necessary to provide a comfortable Patented May 7, 1912.

chair or seat bottom, one that will neither tire the occupant or be otherwise objectionable. Vood bottoms are too hard; cushions and upholstered bottoms too warm and not sanitary. The flexible bottom hereinbefore described is maintained against undue sagging, and yet is flexible and yielding and very comfortable, sanitary, inexpensive and durable, and forms an ideal bottom for invalid chairs and the like. If so desired, the flexible bottom can be provided with a more or less vornamental cover of leather, tapestry or other suitable material attached in any suitable manner or by any suitable means.

The seat lifting devices between the chair frame and the vertically movable seat, as in my hereinbefore mentioned patent, comprise a shaft 7, arranged transversely within the front portion of the chair frame and carrying quadrants 90, mounted to rock vertically and provided with rearwardly extending radial or lifting arms 92,pivotally connected to intermediate portions of the vertically movable seat by vertically disposed links'93, at their lower ends pivotally joined at 95, to the free ends of arms 92, and at their upper ends pivotally joined by transverse rivets or other pivots 94, to the side bars 2l, of the seat frame at points in advance of the rear of said seat frame. A vertically swingable seat lifting frame is provided comprising side links 8, at their forward ends mounted on the shaft 7, to rock thereon and at their rear ends pivotally joined by transverse rivets 80, or other suitable pivots to the rear ends of the seat frame side bars 2l, in rear of and spaced from the rivets 94, joining links 93 thereto. rIhese two links 8 are fixed together by a cross bar 82, arranged over and normally engaged by the lifting arms 92, which bear upwardly against said cross bar to lift the frame consisting of links 8, and bar 82, and thereby swing the rear end of the seat upwardly and forwardly while the lifting arms 92, through the medium of the links 93, lift the front end of the seat by swinging the seat on the pivots 80, as a center, approximately as set forth in my said patent.

The retractile or pull springs 91, are secured to the quadrants by iexible pull connections 96, and constantly tend to rotate said quadrants in a direction to raise the seat. rIhe rear ends of the springs are secured to the cross or evener head or bar 97, longitudinally movable on screw threaded rod I0, and held by the springs against the hand wheel or nut 98, forming the abutment for said evener head 97, and whereby said head is adjusted to vary the tension of the springs on the seat. The nut 98, is longitudinally adjustable on said threaded rod 10, to attain the desired spring tension.

The shaft 7, is at its ends mounted in metal brackets 4, secured to the side bars of a rigid metal frame 3, fixed in the chair frame. The frame 3, consists of a metal bar bent approximately to U-shape, and arranged longitudinally of the rear face of the front bar of the chair frame and rigidly bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The sides of the frame 3, extend rearwardly within the chair frame and are bolted or otherwise fixed to the inner faces of the side bars of the chair frame.

The screw threaded rod 10, is arranged within the chair frame and extends forwardly from the rear bar of said frame and at its front end carries the head or yoke 12, bearing against and bracing the central portion of the shaft 7. The rear end of the screw rod is fixed to a metal block 1l, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear bar of the chair frame. By thus extending the screw threaded rod rearwardly to the rear bar of the chair frame, I extend the range of adjustment of the hand wheel 98, and the lifting springs, and I am able to use lifting springs of maximum length with maximum range of adjustment. This is desirable to attain a range of spring adjustment say from seventy to two hundred pounds more or less, inasmuch as the springs are adjusted to suit the weight of the person to use the chair.

I provide brackets 5, arranged at the inner face of the rear bar of the chair frame and bolted or otherwise fixed thereto, and having forwardly projecting cushioned flanges or ledges to engage the rear bar 20, of the seat frame and limit the downward movement of the rear end of the seat. The seat lifting device is intended to be adjusted to the weight of the person who is to use the chair, so that the pull of the springs will be sufficient to materially aid the occupant of the chair in rising therefrom, as set forth at length in my said patent, but I have found it to be desirable to provide means for automatically locking the seat in lowered or load sustaining position when it has been depressed by the weight of the occupant, and to thus maintain the seat locked while in use. Means are provided under the control of the occupant for actuating the locking means to relieve the seat, so that the seat is under the control of the occupant to perform its lifting functions when desired.

In the specific example illustrated, I show an automatic locking device comprising a vertically rockable or tilting bar 6, mounted on the front portion of the frame 3, and arranged to tilt forwardly to permit the upward passage of heels or projections 90, extending forwardly from the quadrants, and to drop back under said heels or projections and thereby lock said projections against downward movement and consequently the quadrants against seat lifting movement. The quadrants are formed at their front portions with forwardly projecting heels or projectings 90a, usually beveled at their top edges and forming downwardly facing stop shoulders or ledges at their under edges. The catch or lock is formed by a fiat metal bar 6, of greater length than the distance between the two quadrants, and this bar is arranged on edge at the rear face of the front of the chair frame and longitudinally of and with its lower edge resting and rockable on the longitudinal top edge of the front cross portion of the frame 3, so that the bar can swing forwardly to a position about parallel with the rear surface of the chair frame front bar and can swing rearwardly and extend at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from the frame 3, wit-h the top edge of the bar spaced rearwardly from the front of the chair frame. The locking bar is so arranged as to constantly tend to drop back to said inclined posit-ion, and it is limited in its rearward swing by any suitable means. For instance, I show headed pins 60, extending forwardly through enlarged transverse holes in the bar and secured in the chair frame front, so that the bar is free to rock transversely on frame 3, and the heads of pins 60, limit rearward swing of the bar. The locking bar is so arranged, that when the seat is forced down by the weight of the person dropping into the chair, the upwardly moving projections 90a, of the quadrants will engage the rear face of the rearwardly tilted locking bar and push said bar forwardly, permitting said projections to slip past the same. Vhen the said quadrant projections move upwardly beyond the locking bar, said bar will immediately drop rearwardly below the quadrant projections and prevent downward movement thereof and hence lock the quadrants against seat elevating movement. When the weight of the occupant is not o-n the seat, as thus locked, the locking bar is wedged or clamped between the top edge of frame 3, and the quadrant projections 90a, under the tremendous force of the two seat lifting springs, and hence it is necessary to apply the weight of the occupant to the seat and force the same fully do-wn to its limit of downward movement and thereby relieve the locking bar from the power of the springs, before the locking bar can be swung forward to release the seat lifting device. It is highly desirable that the occupant should be properly seated in the chair when the seat lifting device is released for reasons readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Various means can be provided for swinging the locking bar forwardly to release the quadrants and consequently the seat lifting device. For instance, I show the ends of the lifting bar formed with rearwardly extending arms 6l, arranged adjacent to the inner faces of the chair frame sides. .These arms 61, extend over and usually rest on the top edges of the laterally and inwardly extending free ends 62, of vertically swingable lifting levers 63, at their rear ends fulcrumed to the inner faces of the chair frame sides. Suitable means are provided for swinging said levers 63, upwardly to swing the locking bar forwardly to abnormal position through the medium of the lever ends 62, and the bar arms 61. As an example of means that can be employed for lifting said levers, I show vertical pull rods or wires 64;, at their lower ends having hooks 65, in which said levers rest and by which they can be elevated. These pull wires extend vertically beyond the side edges of the seat and at the inner faces of the chair frame sides and through guide and protecting tubes 66, fixed at the rear edges of the front chair legs, and at their upper ends are coupled to the rear ends of hori- Zontally disposed levers 67. These levers are mounted to rock vertically on horizontal fulcrums 68, fixed to the front chair legs and at their front ends carry push buttons 69, vertically movable in openings through the fro-nt end portions of the chair arms l1, and projecting above the top surfaces of the chair arm.

The push buttons are so arranged that downward pressure thereon by the hands or arms will rock the levers 67 in a direction to draw the pull wires upwardly and thereby tilt the locking bar forwardly to release the quadrants, provided, of course, that the weight of the occupant of the chair is sufficient to cause the final compression of the chair lifting springs necessary to force the seat completely down on the supports, 5, and thereby relieve the locking bar of the pressure of the springs. The buttons cannot be depressed to swing the locking bar forwardly unless said bar is relieved of the pressure of the springs, thereby avoiding danger of the seat being released by a child. The buttons or knobs are operated to throw the locking bar forwardly by very slight downward pressure and a short range of movement, and as the buttons project up through and above the chair arms, the buttons will be almost involuntarily engaged and depressed by the chair occupant in placing the hands on the chair arms as is usually done when preparing to rise fro-m a chair. The locking bar can be swung forwardly to releasing positionlby either button or knob. I usually provide a knob or button in each chair arm, although I do not wish to limit my invention to the use of such knobs or buttons as other operating means might be employed.

It is evident that various changes, varia tions, and modifications might be resorted to in the forms, constructions and arrangements of the parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limitinyself to the exact constructions` and arrangements disclosed.

Desiring to cover my invention as broadly as it is legally possible for me to do, what I claim is l. In a chair, in combination, a chair frame, a vertically movable seat, a swinging seat lifting member carried by said frame, a spring device constantly acting on said member to swing the same to lift the seat, said member having a locking projection, a locking bar to engage said projection and lock said member against seat lifting movement, and manually controlled means for moving said bar to releasing position, said locking bar having a limited range of rocking movement to be engaged by and rocked from the path of said projection when the same is moving in one direction and to slip into locking position abutting said projection as the seat approximately reaches depressed position.

2. In a chair, in combination, a chair frame, a vertically movable seat, a seat lifting device comprising a spring constantly exerting a tension to move said device to lift said seat, a lock normally holding said device against seat elevating movement, and manually controlled lock releasing means comprising a depressible button accessible to the occupant of the chair and lever and link connections therefrom to said lock, said lock consisting of a movable detent and said connections from said button arranged to swing said detent from locking position, said seat having a range of downward movement below locked position under the weight of the occupant to relieve said detent from the tension of said spring.

3. In a chair, in combination, a chair frame, a vertically movable seat, a vertically swingable seat lifting member, supporting means therefor in the chair frame, a spring device constantly acting thereon to propel the same on its 'seat lifting movement, said member provided with a projection, a tiltable locking bar carried by the chair frame, said projection adapted to slip by said bar as said member is propelled on seat depressing movement, said bar adapted to automatically engage said projection and lock said member against seat elevating movement, and manually controlled means for tilting said bar to release said projection comprising an accessible operating member and connections therefrom to said bar.

4L. In an arm chair, in combination, a vertically movable seat, a swingable member for elevating said seat, a spring device constantly acting on said member to propel the same on seat elevating movement, an automatic lock for locking said member against seat elevating movement, and a manually controlled releasing device for said lock comprising a depressible button arranged at and projecting above a chair arm, a vertically swingable lever upholding said button, a vertically swingable lever for moving said lock on releasing movement, and a pull connection between said levers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDIVARD J. I-IOFF.

Vitnesses:

E. F. GRIFFITH, H. H. CLARK.

Cnpies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

